Improvement in electrical gas-lighting apparatus



2 Sheets--Sheet I.

J. VANSANT. Electrical Gas-Lighting Apparatus. N0. 139,692. PatentedJunel0,-l873.

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2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

].-VANSANT.

Electrical Gas 139,692.

-Lighting Apparatus.

Patented June 10, 1873.

.W/MMIWWIM NITED STATES ATENT JOHN VANSANT, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139.692, dated June 10, 1873; application filed February 3, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN VANSANT, of San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Lighting and Extinguishing Gas by Electricity; and I hereby declare that the following, taken in connection with the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification,

is a description of my invention sufficient to enable those who are skilled to make and use the same. v a

United States Letters Patent Nos. 113,370, and 120,469, and 124,776 have been granted to me for improvements in light-ingand extinguishing street andother gas lamps by ele c-.

tric agency,. and- Letters, Patent No. 127,000 for improved; apparatus for lig'hting gas by electrical sparks.

My present invention relates to apparatus embodying to a certain extentthe principles trolling thega-s at each lamp.

In mypresjentinvention I employ either of the following methods; for admitting gas to a burner or shu tt in'g ..'it oli' therefrom: In a chamber containing mercury or other suitable liquid, the inlet-gas tube enters from the main pipe, ,and is curved so that its mouth present-s downward, and is a little above the surface of the liquid when the latter is at its 'natural level. Surrounding the inlet-tube is a straight tube, the lower end of which is immersed in the liquid,.and from the upper end an openingexists directly to the burner. The chamber, outside of the last-named tube and above the liquid, contains a movable weight, which is or may be the lower one of two electro-magnets, (the upper being fixed,) that may be simultaneously excited by the passage of an electric current through a wire coilsurrounding both. This lower electro-niagnct is in connection, by means of a rod, with a catch above the chamber, which catch, itself the armature of a third electro-magnet, may support the rod and said lower magnet, or let them drop, according as the third electro-ma-gof the liquid, and is caught and held there by the armature-catch before mentioned, while the liquid at the same time resumes its level and opens a passage for the gas to the burner. It a current be now passedthrough the third electro magnet alone the armature-catch is withdrawn, and the displacing-weight, falling. into the liquid, closes the mouth of the inlet-' tube and excludes thegas One feature of this part of my invention is the direct employment of theforce of electro-.

magnetism, without intermediatemechanism, r to raise the displacing-weight out of the liquid; and another feature isthe instantaneous admission of the gas,.by this ineans, to the burner; and still another feature is withdrawing the supporting armature-catch by the direct action of an independent electro-magnet, thus ett'ecting, by the fall of the weight and simultaneous rise ofv the liquid, the instantaneous arrest of the escaping gas.

Instead of employing an electro-magnet as the liquid-displacing weight, a piece of iron,"

unmagnetized by the direct influence of the wire coil, may be used; or a permanent steel magnet may be employed as the weight, and its fall caused by a reversal in direction of the current sent through the wire coil of the associated electro-maguet, rendering, in this latter case, the armature catch above spoken of, or any other catch, unnecessary, and requirin g, to produce a movement of the weight in either direction, only the use ot'a single line of wire. But the objection to associating permanent magnets with electro-ma-gnets is, the demagnetizing of the former by the latter. This objectiou can, however, be overcome in the present case, and a catch dispensed with, permanent magnetism being substituted for it, as the retaining agent of the weight, by eniploying two separate and distinct wire coils,

' place of using a liquid as the means of openmg and closing communication between a gas .\position by the permanent magnetism after the electric currents have ceased to flow. If, new, two currents be again made to traverse the two coils simultaneously, but the current.

passing through the coil around the electromagnet have its former direction reversed, while the direction of the other current in the coil around the permanent magnet be the same as the first, then repulsion will take place without demagnetization, and the two ma netic cores will be separated, and to such a distance that the permanent magnetism of one Will be insutiicient to draw the two together again (and thus readmit the gas) after the currents are discontinued. This combination requires for its operation two line-wires connecting the lamps when the reversal of the current is effected at a distant station. In

pipe and burner, I also employ for that purpose a slide-valve composed of two solid pieces of metal, glass, or other suitable material, one, at least, of which'is perforated, and both'are interposed as a diaphragm between the source of supply of the gas and the burner. A surt'ace'of each piece is ground to fit accurately one to the other, and they slip or slide upon one another, and close or open the aperture above referred to, by bringing a continuous surface or a hole to correspond with it, or by withdrawing the edge of the sliding piece beyond the aperture; and these movements are accomplished by one electric or magnetic impulse imparted to the valve, so as to admit or excludethe gas instantaneously. As I make these ground surfaces perfectly fiat, (though curved surfaces may be used,) of non-corrodible substances, use no lubricating material between them, and press them together only by the weight of the slide itself, (though a spring may be used,) there is but little adhesion, and no dust or deposit from the gas can get between them, since they are always in air-tight apposition. This slidevalve, with its seat, is inclosed in a tight valve-case a little larger in every way than it is, and in the top of this case is an opening direct to the'gas-burner, while out of the bottom passes the gas-tube to the source of supply. 011 two sides of this valve-case are situated the poles, or a pole, of two independent electro-magnc'ts. One of these poles or pairs of poles is an extension of the electromagnet of the induction-coil, to be hereafter described, and which furnishes the spark to ignite the gas. The sliding valve is or may be square or oblong, and pivoted loosely at one corner to its seat, and has on each of its sides, opposite to the electromagnetic poles, a piece of iron attached as an armature to the non-magnetic material of which the valve is mainly composed. This iron is for the purpose of being attracted andmoving the slide toward the active magnet, while the non-magnetic material prevents the conduction of the magnetism to the pair of unexcited poles on the opposite side, and the consequent adhesion that would then ensue. It the slide be made entirely of iron, it must always be kept some distance from the poles of both electro-magnets by the interposition of a nonmagnetic substance; otherwise it may adhere to the poles of the passive magnet, or actually move away from the active one; but this defeats one purpose I have in view, viz., to use the residual magnetism to prevent slipping of the valve by gravity if the lamp should be much inclined from the perpendicular, and which I .accomplish by using the compound slide. A slide of magnetized steel may also be employed, and, in this instance, but one electro-magnet, with apole on each side of the case, and one main circuit-wire will be required, the current being reversed at the station, and the forces of repulsion and attraction being alternately evoked on different sides to move the valve in opposite directions. A compound slide of which an electro-magnet forms a part may'also be used within the valve-case, which then should be somewhat more elongated. The two poles of the electromagnetic core of the induction-coil which is used for lighting may be brought to act on one end or both ends of this electromagnetic slide, and motion will thus be imparted to it to ad mitor exclude the gas, accordingly as the two independent currents are sent simultaneously in the same direction, or in opposite directions, around the core and the slide.

The chief features of this part of my invention are, the peculiar construction of the several slidevalves; the opening and closing of the valves by the direct action thereon of electromagnetism, without intermediate moving mechanism, (though I do not limit myself to this particular method of ap oilying eleet-ro-magnetism to move these slide-valves the instantaneous admission and exclusion of gas to and from a burner by an electro-magnetical machine having but one moving part i. 0., the valve; the use of an electric helix around a permanent magnet to prevent its demagnetization when combined with an electromagnet whose poles may be reversed; the employment of both poles of the iron core of an induction-coil for attracting one armature.

The method I use for lighting the gas as it escapes from the burner is by passing an electric spark across the combustible mixture of air and gas, as it is found just at the base of the slit in a common lava or other tip. The

igniting sparks for each lamp of a series are generated by an independent induction-coil at every lamp, and within or without each induction-coil is one of a connected series of inducing-helici s, which also serves to excite the magnet that gives motion to the gas-admittin g devices.

The manner in which the inducing-wire, the induction-coils, the circuit-breaker, and condenser are combined to produce the igniting sparks is or may be substantially that described in my Patent No. 127,000, before re ferred to; but the arrangement of the inducing and induction helices, in relation to the mechanism for admitting and shutting oh the gas, is peculiar to this invention, as is, also,

the relative position that said helices may have to each other. The advantage of plac ing the inducing-helix exterior to the induction-coil'arises from the greater proximity of the induction-coil to the magnetic core, and, also, from the diminution by this arrangement ofthe inductive influence that would otherwise be expended in the inducing-helix, and which increases the injurious spark at the break-piece. v v

Another part ofmy invention is the insulation of the electro gas-lamp (as'I will, for convenience, style the entire machine placed in a street-lantern for lighting and extinguishing the gas therein by electric agency) from the gas-pipe to which it is attached, and consequently from the ground. This important feature confines almost every possible accident which may occur to one or more of a connected series of electro gas-lamps to the particular lamp or lamps affected. This insulation is accomplished by inserting between the base of an electro gas-lamp andthe gas -pipe a piece of dry wood, or other suitable electrically nonconducting substance, in such a way that no metallic contact exists between the pipe and lamp, while at'the same time their union is secured, and the gas can pass into the lamp by a perforation through the insulating material. The insulation of the electro gas-lamps renders inoperative the device shown in two of my aforesaid patents for using each lamp -post asa testing-point'in case of accidents to the'main line connecting together many street -lamps, especially it the linebe subterranean; but, in my present apparatus, I attain the same end by even simpler means, namely, joining an uncovered piece of metal, as a ring of brass, to

the exit-wire of each electro-magnetic coil just below the base of the lamp. When, for

' certain faults, the line is to be tested, it is only necessary that'the inspector should apply one end of a curved metallic rod" or wire veution, the use of an aerial or overhead line of wire is often desirable for the purpose just mentioned. This aerial line may be made of ordinary uncovered telegraph-wire, or the wire maybe wrapped and tarred, or more or less insulated in any other way if it be deemed necessary to prevent metallic contact with the foliage of trees, &c. I support and secure the wires at each lamp-post, or other support fora street-lamp, by means of insulators of glass, porcelain, vulcanite, or other suitable.

material, attached to projecting arms extending out from the lamp-post or support; and between the lamp-posts, if necessary, I attach the wires to similar insulators placed on a pole sufficiently high to keep the line from injury, or the line between the posts may be attached to insulators on the adjacent buildings.

The feature of this part of my invention is attaching insulators to lamp-posts, or other supports for street-lamps, for the purpose of sustaining wires connecting together electrical machinery at different lamp-posts, and also for taking off the strain due to the weight and tension of the wires from the said electrical machinery.

As the apparatus I am describing is designed mainly to light and extinguish the streetlamps of cities, I propose to send out the electric wires for this purpose from one or more convenient stations, the number dependmg upon the size of the city. The lamps can then be joined together in sections or series of,' say, fifty, more or less, and those of each series or section lighted or extinguished simultaneously and instantaneously, while the diii'erent series or sections are lighted and put out in rapid succession.

To etfect this certain machinery is required at the station, viz., a voltaic battery or some other source of dynamic electricity, an electrotome or current-breaker, anda switch or circuit-changer. The battery may be made of any convenient form or material. I use carbon and zinc plates immersed in solution of bichromate of potash and sulphuric acid, without porous cells, and have the plates so suspended and balanced above the acid solution that a large number may be quickly lowered at the same time into it, or raised from it. A magneto-electric machine, or a thermoelectric battery, or an electro-magnetic machine, may be used, if desired, to produce the current that operates the series of electro gaslamps.

The electrotome 1 have invented and used as part of the lighting apparatus consists of a helix having within it, freely movable, a core of iron or magnetized steel, in regard to which the helix is adjustable longitudinally. The core rests vertically on a metallic spring, one end of which is or may be connected with the helix-wire, while the other end touches a metallic surface that may be put in communication with one pole of a voltaic battery. Through an opening in the spring projects a pin, which is firmly attached to the core, and freely movable in the opening till arrested by a head too large to pass through. When an electric current is sent through the helixfaud spring, by bringing the opposite batteryepole into contact with the free end of the helix-wire the core will he suddenly drawn further into the helix, until the head of thge attached pin strikes a blow upon the spring,

' r the end of which is thereby separated from the metal surface it touches, and the current is broken. The electricity ceasing to flow in the helix, the core drops by gravity, but the spring returns to its normal position by elasticity, and closes the circuit for an instant before the momentum of the falling core can be overcome by the now flowing current, and for another instant while the core is rising again to strike the blow that breaks the circuit. These intervals of time sufiice for the current to charge well the magnets of a connected series ofelectro gas-lamps, when they are included in a circuit with the electrotome, and to produce at the lamps the maximum secondary effects that the primary current can afford. The magnetic influence of the helix on the included core can be perfectly graduated by elevating or depressing the helix, so that a fewer or greater number of the spiral turns of wire shall surround the core; this adapts one electrotome to currents of various powers. 7 The'hammer-like' blow which the spring receives when the core is drawn within the helix causes a very abrupt breaking of the current, and a consequent .increased intensity of the induction obtainable therefrom. The induction efi'ects in a connected series of electro gas-lamps may be furtherhcightened by associating a condenser ,.-.with the electrotome connecting one of the two series of metallic sheets in the condenser oneither side of the rupture-point in the electrotome, and as near to it as convenient. These induction eifects may be still further increased by placingthe poles of a strong magnet close-on either side of the rupturepoint of the electrotome, so that the extra spark shall he suddenly brokenv by the influence of the magnet. Other kinds of electrotomes moved automatically by the current may be used in combination with the appara tus described in this specification; and, also, mechanical electrotomes having wheel-work driven by the stress of a spring, or manual or other force, beside that of the current itself, may be employed in such combination. One of the latter kind, consisting of a metal disk, with insulated spaces around its periphery, turned rapidly by any of the means above mentioned, and having a metallic spring pressed lightly against its dentated edge, if introduced into a circuit of gas lamps, instead of my automatic percussive electrotome before described, and connected with the switch so that the current passing from the disk to the spring shall he often interrupted in every revolution of the disk, will bring about the induction necessary to light the lamps. The chief features of this part of my invention are, the plan of moving an electro or permanent magnet within a fixed coil, for the purpose of rupturing the circuit of an induction appara tus; thespian of breaking the circuit automatically by a blow produced by the action of the current; the particular mode of continuing contact between two solid metal surfaces transmitting a current for a sufiicient time to enable any electro-magnets that may be included in the electric circuit to be fully charged before the circuit is suddenly broken by the action of the electricity itself; the plan of regulating the quantity of electricity afi'ecting the movable magnet of the electrotome by changing the relative position of the helix and magnet, the current passing through the circuit being at the same time unchanged, thus adapting one electrotoine to currents or batteries of various powers; the method of using a mechanical electrotome with the connected series of primary inducing-coils as disposed in my apparatus.

The switch or mechanism for shifting the currents that I use in my apparatus consists of a non-conducting disk or table, over the surface of which passes a rotating radial arm,

having firmly connected with its central end,

below the disk, a metal plate, on which presses a spring, that keeps the plate in constant communication with one pole of the volt-aic battery while the arm is turning.

carries on its end a metallic pin, that passes through the arm and projects a little below its under surface, in order to make and break contact, as required, with one or more series of metallic pins or plates arranged around From the 1 plate, along the top of the arm for about half j its length, extends a metal spring, which the upper surface of the disk, and connected by wires with one or more corresponding 5 series of street or electro gas-lamps, and with one electrotoine. The rotating arm also has on its upper side another shorter spring, which is insulated from all the metallic connections of the switch, except when a pin on each end of the spring, and passing through the arm, shall be brought into contact with two of the pins or plates of the disk.

Each series of the contact pins or plates of the disk is arranged near together on a section cut from the disk, but fitted in its place, and hinged so as to be dropped, when required, out of the way of the rotating arm, and thus leave out of connection with the bu tery the particular series of electro gas-lam v joined to the pins or plates on that swinging disk-section. The series of contact-pins on every disk-section numbers five, three of these being on the line of a circle drawn concentric with the circumference of the disk, and the other two placed on a radial line passing through'the last of the three pins. The first of the three pins is connected with a wire joining together the electro-magnets that are instrumental in extinguishing the gas at each of a series of lamps; the second pin is connected with a wire joining together the electro-magnets that are employed to let on the gas to the burners of the same series of lamps; and

the last of the three pins is connected with a wire. proceeding to the electrotome. The outer pin of the two on the radial line is attached to the return-wire from the electrotome, and the inner pin is connected by a short wire te the second pin of the three above mentioned.

When the radial arm swings around the disk from left to right the battery-current is conveyed thereby, successively, to each contact-pin on a disk-section, and also to each series of contact-pins, producing in every series of connected electro gas-lamps, in regular order, the admission and lighting of the gas. When the arm swings in the opposite direction every series of lamps, in succession, is extinguished by the valve-motion arresting the flow of gas, this result occurring upon the completion of the circuit through the last contactpin (formerly the first) now reached on each disk-section.

The rotary movement of the radial arm of the switch may be produced by hand,.or by the pressure of a spring or weight acting there on through a system of cog-wheels, so combined that motion in a constant direction given to two wheels fixed on a horizontal axle shall impart rotation to the left or right to a single wheel placed between them on a vertical axis, accordingly as one or other of the two wheels separately gears into the single one.

One feature of this part of my invention is the arrangement of the contact-pins. of the switch with the electrotoine and main circuitwire, so that the same ,wire at one time conducts a continued current that opens. the valves, and at another time an interrupted .current to produce the induction that lights the admitted gas; and a second feature is the combination of the short insulated spring on the switch-arm with the disk-pins, electrotome, and main circuit-line,in such a manner that one electrotome answers to interrupt the cur rent for successive. series of lamps; and a third feature is placing the disk-pins in such order, in relation to the respective line-wires of each connected series of lamps, that the rotation of the arm in one direction admits the gas and lights it, and in the opposite direction, over the same pins, shuts off the gas, and thereby, of course, extinguishes it.

I prefer to use the ground to complete the circuit through my apparatus in case of lighting street-lamps, though a complete metallic circuit may be employed. I also make use of a very feeble battery, (of insufliicient power to operate the lamp-valves,) in combination with a galvanometer and the connected series of electro gas-lamps, to test the continuity and perfection of the circuit from the station. This is done by substituting the poles of the small battery for those of the large one, and interposing the galvanometer in the general circuit. The amount of the deflection of the needle will indicate, to a considerable extent, the condition of the line.

The drawings represent an apparatus and lamps:

parts of an apparatus embodying my invention. Figure 1 shows a viewin perspective of the apparatus applied to two series ofstreet- A is the battery; B is the electrotome; O is the switch; B is a vertical section of the coil, core, and spring of the electro tome; (J is a view of the under side of the switch. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are vertical central sectional views of three different kinds of electro gas-lamps that may be used as part of this apparatus: D is to exhibit the manner that the induction-coilof either lamp may be placed within theinducing-helix; E is a hori-' zontal section of Fig. 2 at the line a, showing the armature-catch and third magnet; F is a horizontal section of Fig. 4 at the line z, showing a plan of the slide-valve.

aa denote the lamp-posts for any number of gas-lamps, placed, for instance, in the streets of a city. They are joined together by the circult-wires r to, extending from a central station these wires also connecting into aseries the electrical machinery at each lamp-post intended for lighting and extinguishing the gas. Anotherseries of lamps is represented ataa, the line or circuit wires of which are independent of those of the first series, except each lamp-post to support and insulate the line, and to relieve the wires immediately belonging to the electro gas-lamp of all strain.

This isaccomplished by bending'the line'wire around an insulator and securing it by a.

clamp, or in any other way, so that the weight and tension of the line shall fall upon the in-' sulator. The end of the line-wire is then passed up, within the lantern, to the electro gas-lam p, and soldered to the appropriate wire projecting therefrom, which is thus not liable to be broken. A proper way to attach the lllsulators to the lamp-posts is by means of metallic rods, which supportthe insulators at their ends, and are bent, as shown in the drawing, and fixed to the posts; but I do not confine myself to this or any particular method for their attachment. The last lamp of each series is or may be put into direct communication with the ground by having its exitwires buried, and the electric circuit is then completed through the earth back to the station. 1" denotes the valve-opening and lighting wire, and w the valve-closing wire, of the first series of electro gas-lamps, and r the opening and w the closing wires of. the second series.

A denotes the volt-aic battery, fitted with stationary cells, and the platessattached to a vertically-sliding frame, which is balanced by weights, and can be lowered or raised as needed. Two binding-screws on top of the cross-bar are the poles for the attachment of wires, one of which is in communication with the earth, and the other with the switch-arm.

.3 points out the electrotome or currentbreaker. 6 denotes a coil of insulated wire one of these rods, and the other end to the opposite rod. 6 is a core, consisting of a tube or red of iron or steel, a'little shorter than the interior brass tube, within which it easily slides, and is supported in position by the curved brass spring 0 e is a pin projecting downward from the core, and passing very loosely' through a slot in the horizontal portion of the spring 0 but it is prevented irom being withdrawn entirely from the slot, when the core rises by the action of an electric current, by a head or nut, e", that, in such case, strikes a blow on the under surface of the spring, separating the platina-pointed end of the latter, a, from the platina-capped adjustable screw-post 0 6 is a strong magnet, either electro or permanent, with its poles near the rupture-points, to aid in dispelling the extra spark when the circuit is broken. The rupture-points can also be surrounded by a cup containing alcohol or pure water, if it be deemed desirable to break the circuit beneath a fluid. The other end of the spring 0 is firmly secured to a metal post, 0". Metallic wires (partly beneath the base of the instru-' ment) extend from a binding-screw, e", to the upper binding-screw e, and from the opposite binding-screw e to the post 0, and from post 0 to binding-screw 0. Posts 0' and e" are also connected beneath the base-board with a condenser, of tin-foil and varnished paper, 0 The course of an electric current is or may be from c to 0 thence through the platina junction and spring to e",- thence to e, and through the brass rods and coil to e, and thence to e". If it he wished at any time to increase the sensitiveness of the electrotome an additional short electro-magnetmay be inserted in the ,top of the coil, and held in a fixed position by I switch or mechanism for transferring the battery-current from one continuous line-wire to another of the same series of lamps, and also for connecting the electrotome with one of said line-wires and the battery; and, further, for transferring the current from one series of lamps to other series, and also for connecting the same electrotome and battery with one of the continuous line-wires of each successive series of lamps. C shows a bottom view of the same mechanism. t is an arm of dry wood, that swings around just above a disk of dry, varnished wood, of any convenient size. This arm has on its upper surface the flat brass spring t whose central end is fastened to the metallic axis of the arm, and its outer enil attached to a metal pin that pierces the arm and protrudes below it far enough to make good connection with the several series of contact pins or plates I II III I II III, placed around the upper surface of the disk. t indicates another shorter spring, fastened at its middle on the arm, but insulated from the spring t Each end of t has attached to it a pin, penetrating through the arm, as described above, for making connection with the disk contact pins or plates IV V IV V when the arm is revolved. t t denote the segments containing the series of contact-pins cut from the disk, and hinged thereto, so as to be lowered out of the way of the arm when needful. They are secured in position, when up, by the bolts t t shown in C the axis of arm t and turning with it. t is a brass spring, with one end screwed to the wooden disk, and the other end pressing on the wheel t" to make connection between said wheel and the battery-wire p, soldered to the 3 spring. The valve-closing or catch-withdrawing line-wire w is seen attached below to contact disk-pin I; the valve-opening and lighting line-wire r to disk-pin II. a shows the connecting-wire from disk-pin III tobinding-screw e of electrotome, and u the return-wire from bindingscrew e of electrotome to disk-pin IV. A short connecting-wire is also shown in G on the under side of the disk, between contact-pins V and II. The adjacent segment tFshows similar connections, viz., wire to to pin I; wire r to pin II wire u from pin III to binding'serew e and wire a from binding-screw a" to pin IV. t t t" denote the supporting-legs for the disk.

Fig. 2 shows a vertical section of an electro gas-lam p, such as may be placed in the lantern at each lamp-post. 9 denotes the top of a gas-pipe proceeding from the source of gassupply. 9 is a perforated plug of dry, "airnished wood, screwed into the gas-pipe below, and into the base-plate g of the lamp above, but in such a manner that the pipeand plate cannot touch one another, and the lamp is insulated from the ground. 9 is a crooked inlet-tube or passage-way, with its interior opening looking downward, for the gas to enter from 9 into a small chamber at the lower end of the tube 9 which leads to the burner. The bottom edge of this small chamber does not quite touch the floor of a larger circular chamber, y that contains it, but dips into a quan t is a solid brass wheel attached to the burner. 4 raised the mercury resumes its former level, and the passage-way is thus again open for When the electro-magnet g is the admission of gas to the burner. g? denotes an eleotro-magnet composed of irpn wires, and firmly fixed to the top plate 9". g is an inducing-coil of coarse wire, properly insulated, that surrounds the two electro-magnets g g", and it may be considered as a coiled portion of the circuit-wire of a connected series of lamps. g is an induction-coil of very fine insulated wire, surrounding the primary coil g or this position of the inducing'a-nd inductioncoils may be reversed, as shown at D. The two ends of the wire of the induction-coil are strengthened and insulated by gutta-percha when-passing toward the burner, and are properly supported at g", and tipped with platina where they approach each other to give the igniting spark. g is a rod of metal fastened below to the magnetweight g and passing through a hole in the electromagnet g and plate g and having on its upper end a projection that may be caught by the pivoted armature y, when g is attracted and raised. 9 is an electro-magnet with two curved legs, only one of which is wound with wire. Its two poles are near the pivoted and weighted armature g, and its function is, when charged, to draw back the armature, release the rod g, and drop the weight g to extinguish the gas. The function of the armature g is to uphold both when the main current is entirely broken, and also when it is rapidly interrupted by the electrotome to produce the induction current and sparks. 1 do not limit myself to the above-described shape or position of the electro-magnet 'g, or its armature g, as they may have various shapes and positions; and 9 may be drawn back by a spring instead of-a weight, The insulatingsupportg" for the radiating coils of the spark- .wires is or may be like that described in Patents Nos. 120,469 and 124,773; and the arrangement of the points of said wires at the burner is the same asdescribed in the lastnamed patent. g g are the uncovered metallic rings for testing the line, and they are soldered onto the exit-wires w and a, respectivel y. g is the cover.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of an electro gas lamp with two independent coarsewire indu ing-coils, h k which are shown inside of the ne-wire induction-coil h but the relative position of the coarse and fine coils may be reversed, as shown at D, so as to bring the finewire coil next to the magnetic core. h is a bundle of soft-iron wires, fastened at the upper end to the plate M, and having an opening, h, through the center up to the burner.

. h" is a cap of magnetized steel fitting loosely over the straight inlet-gas, tube h and having a groove, it", across the'solid metal at its top. The lower end of the cap is immersed to a sufficient depth in mercury h to prevent the passage of gas from the inlet-tube to the burner when the cap is down in the position shown in to the plate L5, thus serving as the bond ot'- union for the two plates, as a chamber for the mercury, and as a conduit for the gas. The ends k 1i of the induction-coil h are insulated and pass to the burner in the manner stated when describing Fig. 2. \Vhen two currents pass in the same direction at the same time through the coils h h the magnetism of the iron wires and ot' the steel cap combine to ele vate the latter out of the mercury and attach it to the lower end of the wires, where it remains, when the current ceases to flow by virtoe of its permanent magnetism. The gas then has a free passage from the tubeh, beneath the lower margin of the cap h", through the tube h" and the groove It", the opening It, and thence onto the burner. When the same two currents are then rendered intermittent by the use ofan electrotome the induction-coil It gives a spark at the burner that-ignites the gas.

When, on the other hand, the direction of the current through the coil h is reversed by means of a pole-changer, while the direction of that through the coil h remains unchanged, the magnetism evoked in the iron h repels that maintained in the steel h, and the latter, being alone movable, is driven down into the mercury and shuts off the gas. When the currents now cease the magnetized cap remains down by virtue of its gravity.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of another electro gas-lamp lighted upon the same principles as those above described under Figs. 2 and 3; but in this the valve is quite different. 1" denotes the valve-case, which may be made of brass, rectangular in form, and have a perforated lid, 17, screwed tightly upon it, supporting the burner. i is or may be a flat piece of brass, ground perfectly smooth on its upper surface, plated with nickel, and perforated near one end with asmall hole for the passage of gas from the inlet-tube i, which is soldered to its lower surface, and also to the bottom of the case i. '6 is the slide for admitting or excluding the gas, ground to fit air-tight to the surface of i, on which it rests. It is preferably made of brass plated with nickel, and has a shape corresponding to that of the case i, but a little shorter and narrower, so as to admit of a small amount of sliding motion in two directions, in order to bring the aperture 1;, with which it is pierced, over or away from the hole in i .z" indicates a piece of soft iron firmly attached to the brass slide to serve as an armature for the poles of the electro-magnet i as shown at F, ('5' i and i denotes a similar piece of iron fixed on another side of the slide before the poles of the U-sbaped electromagnet i, as seen in F, These poles penetrate through the sides of the valve-case, and are soldered in place. The slide i is pivoted, or turns loosely about a pin passing through one of its corners at The bundle of iron wires i has its ends conthen upward, to form the poles i? t s a l 139,692

tinned by iron, first, outward horizontally, and '0 IS a helix of coarse wire, and t" is an inductioncoil of fine wire, 6 being its spark-giving ends. r+ and r--- denote the entrance and exit ends for the line-wire for admitting and lighting the gas,-and w+ w show similar ends for the extinguishing wire, its continuation forming the coil of the electro-magnet i i is a nut securing and making gas-tight the end of the tube 1" where it passes through the base'plate. i shows the part to be screwed on the gas-pipe from the source of supply. When the poles t 0" are active the slide is moved toward them, and, the holes in i and i being continuous, the gas has free passage to the burner; but when the poles i i are active (1' and i being now passive) the armature 'i is attracted against them, and, the

brass slide having moved also, the gas is shut off by the hole in i being covered by a solid part of i The residual magnetism of these poles is sufificient to hold the slide gently, and prevent any motion thereof from gravity should' the lamp be considerably inclined from a. perpendicular. i

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. An electro-magnetic; displacing-weight, g, combined with a catch for sustaining the raised weight, and an elect-ro-magnet, 9 for releasing'it when-desired, substantially as specified.

2. In combination with the helix surrounding an electro-magnet that opensby its immediate attraction a mercury-valve or a slidevalve, substantially as shown, for admitting ifgas to a burner, a secondary induction-coil,

arranged substantially as specified, for lighting the escaping gas.

3. The slide-valve i with itsarmatures, combined withthe poles i 13 constructed and operated substantially as specified.

4. The combination of an electric helix around'a permanent steel magnet'to prevent its demagnetization with an electro-magnet to produce motion by repulsion.

5. The combination ota gas valve withan 1 electro-magnet and a helix surrounding alpermanent magnet, in such a manner that an electric current sent in a constant direction through the helix around .the permanent magnet, and another current sentsimultaneously throughv the coil of the electromagnet, 'shall produce motion that vill open or the latter current.

6. In combination with an electric machine closethe valve, according to the direction of i placed near a gas-burner to admit or exclude the gas, the use of an electrical insulator to prevent metallic connection between said machine and the gas-supply pipe, or any other i non-insulated support.

7. In combination with an insulated electro gas-lamp, the use of an independent metallic connector to bring the said lamp into electric communication with the ground when re- 9. The headed pin 6 attached to the axial bar 0 and moving in the slot of the connecting-sprin g 2: for rupturing the circuit,'in the manner specified.

10. The combination of a source of dynamic electricity with an electrotome, an electrical 'switch, 0, and two or more series of connected electric machines at street-lamps, for lighting or extinguishing the gas.

a J N O. VANSANT.

Witnesses NATHL. WI SON," EDM. F. BROWN. 

